Is there a way to get M2TW to render more troops?

[Lamprey]

I'm playing on huge unit sizes for the first time and it is really fun, terribly epic battles. However, I'm having trouble with some larger battles, anything over 3,000 troops the computer won't render and instead gives me a message during a battle which reads "enemy reinforcements delayed because your computer sucks, upgrade" (this is not quoter verbatim :) )

My computer is decent enough, GeForce 7900GT, P4 3.2, 3GB RAM so I feel like it should be able to render that no problem. Is there a way to set this? A command-line setting perhaps, like "medieval2.exe -unlimited units"? Or perhaps I need to modify one of the descr_ text files?

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi Lamprey,
This, sadly may not work, this is based upon R:TW experiences, yet the games are based upon the same framework, so it could, with any luck, be sucessful.

To allow unlimited men on the battlefield first you have to enter your M2:TW directory, which I am guessing at being either "C:\Program Files\The Creative Assembly\Medieval 2 - Total War" or "C:\C:\Program Files\The Creative Assembly\Medieval 2 - Total War". It could be something completely different - I do not have the game so I cannot get it precise. Then, within that directory, search for "preferences.txt". Eventually it should find a file with that name. Simply open it and then find the line which says "UNLIMITED MEN ON BATTLEFIELD: FALSE". Change it to "UNLIMITED MEN ON BATTLEFIELD: TRUE". That then, hopefully, should allow you to play with unlimited men on the battlefield.

There are many other things that you may also be able to change in the file. Also based upon R:TW's "preferences.txt" this list explains some of them which may, or may not, be in M2:TW's version. They can be changed by changing the "TRUE" entry to "FALSE":
SUBTITLES - creates subtitles for general's pre-battle speeches and the messages shouted out during the cut-scenes.
MORALE - turns morale on or off for non-arcade battles (for arcade battles this is off automatically).
FATIGUE - turns fatigue, whether men tire or not, on or off for non-arcade battles (for arcade battles this is off automatically).
LIMITED_AMMO - turns unlimited ammunition on or off for non-arcade battles (for arcade battle this is off automatically).
EVENT_CUTSCENES - turns the event cut scenes which occur when a general has died or a wall has been broken down.
VEGETATION - turns vegetation on the battlefield on or off.
AUTO_SAVE - turns auto save on or off.
SHOW_BANNERS - hides or shows the huge flying banners over the top of units.
UNIT_EXPERIENCE_UPGRADE_EFFECT - turns unit experience increases or armour upgrades on or off.
ENABLE_UNIT_SPEECH - stops or allows units from speaking when you order them to move or select them.
DISABLE_ARROW_MARKERS - when set to TRUE, the green arrows underneath units when selected are turned off.
LABEL_CHARACTERS - when set to TRUE it enables all characters to have their name shown on the strategic map like settlements are by default.
LABEL_SETTLEMENTS - toggles whether settlement's names and other basic details, such as happiness, status (such as rioting, plague and siege) and settlement income, are shown underneath the settlement on the strat map.
MINIMAL_UI - This makes the battlefield UI smaller and more compact. It is similar to the style of UI in M:TW.
MUTE_ADVISOR - in effect this does what we always have wanted to do - it gags that irritating advisor woman, and her evil twin Brother, and causes them to be totally silent.
BLIND_ADVISOR - this handy tool removes the advisor's speech bubble from appearing when he/she wants to speak.
MICROMANAGE_ALL_SETTLEMENTS - this turns of auto-manage for settlements without a governor.
UNLIMITED_MEN_ON_BATTLEFIELD - this allows an unlimited amount of men on the battlefield at once - no longer do units have to wait their turn to fight with this great tool on TRUE!
CAMPAIGN_MAP_CAMERA_SMOOTHING - this makes the campaign map camera move nice and smoothly.
EDIT_SETTLEMENT_NAMES - this allows you to rename your settlements. It's a really cool tool - for example you could re-name Rome, Baccus Waterus!

Hope this works, sorry if I can't help you, cheers!

[sapi]

Change "unlimited_men_on_battlefield = 1" in medieval2.preferences.config